Epidemiological study of the correlation and prevention of odontostomatological diseases in patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

AIM: The aim of this work was to test the knowledge about the correlation between juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and oral health and investigate on the wish of the individual about including the figure of the dental hygienist inside the JIA team at the Pediatric Rheumatology Departments. Methods:122 multiethnic volunteers, resident in Italy (95 females and 27 males), aged between 10 and 79 years, were interviewed and divided into five groups: - A. JIA patients= 22; - B. JIA patients’ relatives= 51; - C. JIA medical team= 4; - D. JIA paramedical team= 5; - E. other= 33. The survey has been conducted anonymously, through a multiple-choice self-completion questionnaire, at the Rheumatology Department of the Orthopedic Institute “Gaetano Pini” in Milan and through the social network dissemination for 24 hours. Results: The results indicate that 62% of the interviewed persons believe that there is a correlation between JIA and oral health. 52% of them associate it to the temporomandibular joint (52% A, il 67% B, 100% C, 20% D and 33% E); 21% to the risk of caries and periodontal problems parodontal (34,5% A, 9,8% B, 75% C, 40% D and 18,20% E); 10% to the reduction of the salivary flow(7% A, 4% B, 75% C, 20% D and 12% E). 98% of the interviewed persons think that the prevention of oral problems correlated to JIA might be possible throughout more information, the help of a dental hygienist and of the whole JIA team. In fact, 97% of the sample expressed the wish to include the figure of the dental hygienist into the AIG team of the Rheumatology Department of Gaetano Pini of Milan. Conclusion: This results suggests the importance of adopting an information program at the Italian rheumatology departments in order to inform both the paramedics and JIA patients and their relatives. This epidemiological study has highlighted the wish of the individual about the importance of including the dental hygienist into the JIA team. A discrepancy of notions among the five groups regarding the lack of knowledge have been raised, especially in the Group D represented by JIA paramedical team.